Mechanism for registering sheets.



M. A. DROITCOUR.

MECHANISM FOR REGISTERING SHEETS.

APPLICATION FiLED MAR. 21

Patented Apr. 8,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

M. A. DROITCOUR.

MECHANISM FOR REGISTERING sums.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2!, I918.

- Patented Apr. 8,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M. A. DROITCOUR.

MECHANISM FOR REGISTERING SHEETS.

Patented Apr. 8,1919.

4 SHEETS-5 HEET 3.

gnoentoz APPLICATION HLED MAR. 2!. HHS.

M. A. DROITCOUR. MECHANISM FOR REGISTERING SHEETS.

I D APPLICATON HLED MAR-2|. 191B. 1,299,920. Patented Apr. 8,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

I Y'W I declare that the fol MICHAEL ANDREW DRdITCO'UB, 0F DELPHOS,OHIO.

SM FOR REGISTERING SHEETS.

To all whom) it mag concern:

' Be it known that 1, MICHAEL A. Dnorrnew and useful Improvements inMechanism fo'r Registeri'n Sheets; and I hereby lowing is a full, clear,and exact description =thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is a novel improvement in mechanisms for registeringsheets of paper and the like in position to be fed to mechanism foroperating thereon; such as printing presses; and the invention hasparticular reference to means for registering the sheets fed to suchpresses in position to be seized by the grippers of the impressioncylinders. v 1 I My invention provides means for both side registeringand front registering the sheets; and for supporting the main operativeparts of such mechanism and operatively connecting same in such mannerthatthey cannot get out of time; such register operating mechanismsbeing practically movable as a unit and being preferably mounted in asupport or frame which can,

be moved or swung up out of the way at any time, if the operator for anyreason wishes it. Heretofore the front registering devices and the sideregistering devices have been usually separately supported and operatedso that they are liable to become disarranged or thrown out of time whenone or the other or both are moved out of the way; but in my inventionthe registering V mechanisms are kept in' time both when in o erativeposition and when out of such posltion, so that in all positions theregister actuating mechanismswhether raised. or lowered, or in operativeor inoperative positionswill remain in time, and thus save time andannoyance in adjusting the various registers to act in proper timeasrequired for feeding of the sheets. I

The invention includes novel means for operating the side registeringdevices and the front registering devices; also novel means whereby thesheets may be registered either on the right hand or feeder side, or onthe left hand or gear side, of the press as may be desired; novel meanswhereby the sheet registering devices can be readily swung up or'movedout of the way as a unit Specification of Letters Patent.

whenever it is desired to make ready, the" press, or get at the sheetgages, or cylinder,

or to raise the feed table, without destroylng the time relation ordrivin means of such regulating mechanisms; a so certain mlnor novelfeatures of construction and novel combinations of parts hereinafterexplained. v v

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanyin drawingswhich illustrate one practical embodiment thereof;

but I do not consider the invention restricted to the particularconstruction of parts illustrated in said drawings, as thesev may bevarled while retaining the essential novelcharacteristic features andadvantages of the invention; and I therefore refer to the claimsfor'summaries of the essentials of the invention and novel combinationsand novel constructions of parts for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

Patented Apr. 8, was.

Application filed March 21, 1918. Serial No. 223,755. r i

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the sheet registering mechanisms viewedfrom the' side of the press, and conventionally illustrating part of thefeed board and portions of the press adjacent the registeringmechanisms.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view on line 22, Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the registering mechanisms. 7

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail top plan View of arts shown in Fig. 2.

lfi igs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are enlarged detail views of parts of the sideregistering devices.

Fig. 9 is a reverse view of the cam member P.

Figs. 10 and 11 are enlarged top and end views of one of the sideregistering gages.

I will explain the invention as employed in connection with a sheetprinting press having a rotatable impression cylinder to which thesheets are supplied over a feed table, and their forward edges arealined against front sheet gages in position to be taken by the gripperson the cylinder by front registering devices substantially in the mannerdescribed in my Patent #1,196,934 of Sept. 5,1916. Obviously, however,the invention is usable in connection with other kinds of presses andmachines to which it is desired to supply sheets in a uniform accuratelypositioned manner. 7

Various mechanisms have been heretofore employed for front registerinthe sheets against the front gages, and various means have been used toregister the sheets against either right or left hand side gages, andeffective front and side registering means are shown in my said patent.My present invention therefore has particular reference to the meanswhereby the sheets may be alined against both front gages and right orleft side gages, as may be desired or required by the work beingperformed on the press, and to render all such mechanisms easilyadjustable as a unit into and out of operative position withoutdisturbing their relative adjustment or time.

As conventionally illustrated in Fig. 1, the impression cylinder C isprovided with usual grippers c, and the sheets are supplied thereto froma table T, which may be of any desired construction, and the sheets maybe fed forward over said table, either automatically or by hand. Thefront edge of each sheet is arrested by front sheet gages of anysuitable kind(preferably like those shown in my aforesaid patent, andindicated at G in the drawings)u ntil the sheet is taken by the grippers0. These parts may all be of any desired construction, and arranged tooperate in the usual manner and,

per 86 form no part of the present invention.

In order to properly position the sheet S on the table T, it is not onlydesirable that the forward end of the sheet be alined against the gagesG by suitable front registering devices, preferably such as aredescribed in my aforesaid patent, but it is also desirable that thesheet be alined against side gages indicated at g, which may be also ofany suitable desiredl construction, but preferably such as arehereinafter described, and it is desirable in some cases to aline thesheets against side gages at the right-hand of feeder side of the press,and in other cases desirable to aline the sheets against like gages atthe left hand or gear side of the press.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings the mainoperative arts of the registering devices are mounted in a tiltableframe or support arranged above the cylinder.

As shown, this supporter frame preferably comprises a centrally disposedmember 1 and two end members 1", substantially similar to member 1,which members may be cast; and each member 1, 1*, is fastened at one endupon a shaft 1 journaled in brackets 1 of any suitable kind attached tothe side frames of the press, as indicated in Flg. 1; the other ends ofthe members are connected by a tie rod 1 and a pair of parallel rods 1.

A shaft 2 is journaled in members 1, 1" intermediate the shaft 1 androds 1, and on said shaft is fixed a gear 2 which may be if theinvention is applied to a two revolution printing press the shaft 2 willbe turned oncecfor each two revolutions of the cylinder On the shaft 2,preferably adjacent the intermediate'member 1, is keyed a disk 3, whichhas two diametrically opposite notches 3 and 3 in its periphery, eitherof which may be engaged by a dog 4 pivoted on a cam-member 4 that isloosely mounted on the shaft 2 beside the disk 3. Said cam member has onits face opposite the disk 3 an eccentrically disposed race-cam'portion4 which is engaged by a roller 4 on a slidable rack bar 4 that has abifurcated end 4 loosely embracing the shaft 2, and its toothed portionis guided by a bracket 4 attached to the rod 1 adjacent the cam.

The rack 4 meshes with a segment 5 piv oted on a stud 5, attached tomember 1; and oscillates this segment as rack i is reciprocated by thecam 49. Pivoted on stud 5 and attached to the segment 5 is a secondsegment 5 which meshes with a rack 5 on a casting 5 attached to a rod 5which is slidably mounted in the end castings 1* and lies parallel withand intermediate the rods 1, (see Figs. 4 and 6). This rack 5 and rod 5will be reciprocated endwise when rack 4 oscillates the segments uponthe rotation of cam 4 Upon the rods 1 are mounted the actuating membersof devices for side registering the sheets, and to enable the sheets tobe registered at either side of the machine I provide two sets of sideregistering devices, one adjacent each member 1*.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 5, 6 and 8 each of such devicescomprises an H-s'haped casting 6 having opposite sleeves slidablymounted upon the bars 1 and connected by a bridge piece 6. Pivotallysuspended from and between the sleeves 6 at opposite sides of the bridgepiece 6. are double inverted U-shaped members 6 and 6 which are pivotedat their upper ends on pins 6 and 6 to ears on sleeves 6. The legs ofmembers 6 6 depend between the sleeves 6 and below the rods 1 and arepivotally connected at their lower ends to a brush-member 6 which issuspended thereby.

Slidably mounted upon the rods 1 is a Tshaped member 6 which is adjustably con: nected with the rod 5 by a set screw 6 so that it will bereciprocated by and with the rod 5. This member 6 has a centralextension 6 that extends between the sleeves 6 and between the arms ofthe levers 6 and this extension has pins 6 on its sides which enga einclined slots 6 in the legs of the mem ers 6", see Fig. 5.

As a result of this construction when the member 6 is moved toward themember 6 the pins 6 engaging the slots 6 cause the members 6", 6 toswing so as to lower the brush-member 6 into engagement with a sheet ofpaper S lying upon the bar 7 and move the sheet sidewise into engagementwith the side register gages. v When the rod 5 moves the casting 6 awayfrom the casting 6 the pins 6 within slot 6 swing the lever 6 and bar 6upward and disengage same from the sheet.

The extent of lowering of the brush-member 6 or the pressure thereofupon the sheet S. can be regulated by means of a screw 6? which istapped through an angular extension 6 on the upper endlof the member 6overlying the bar 6 and screw 6 is provided with a lock nut 6". When therod 5 is moved so as to cause the lowering'of the brush-member 6', asdescribed, it can be lowered until the screw 6 engages the member 6 andthen further movement of the bar will cause the brush-member to travellineally with the bar 5.

' The lower surface of the brush-member 6 may be provided with anysuitably frictional rubbing or sheet engaging surface, preferably abrush 6 as indicated in the drawings. Two sets of such sheet engagingdevices are mounted on the rods 1 at opposite sides of the centralmember 1; and either of these can be adjusted toward or away from themember 1. Either of such sheet engaging'devices can be operated,according to whether the sheet is to be registered at the right or lefthand side.

The members may be adjusted to any de-- sired position on the bars 1 androd 5; and

then member 6 fastened to the rod 5, when adjusted, by means ofthumb-screw 6*.

The casting 6 may be provided with a yielding frictional device (such asspring 63 shown in my aforesaid patent) to prevent its moving with thecasting 6 until after the brush-member has been either varied orlowered, then it will move with the cast-,

To assist the said devices in side registering the sheets I preferablyuse a transverse slide bar 7 underlying the sheet and set in a channelin the table T. This bar 7 may also be operated by and from the rod 5,as indicated in Figs. 5 and 7. For this purpose an upstanding bracket 7a is attached to the bar 7 near one end thereof to which is pivoted afinger 7", which projects above the rod 5 and is adapted 'to engage anotch 5 in the rod 5, the finger being yieldingly pressed toward the rodand into engagement with said notch by spring 7 If, for any reason, thebar 7 shouldbe slightly displaced relatively to the rod 5 when theregistering devices areraised, (as hereinafter explained)' w ward, andthe latter finger would ride yieldingly' against the rod.5 until thenotch 5 therein engages the finger; then the slide 7 would be locked toand move with the rod 5' and properly coact with the brush 6 in sideregistering the sheet. The sheet is lightly grasped by and between thebrush member and bar when the latter are moved in the proper directionand drawn up against the proper side guide and registered thereagainst.

If the sheets are to be registered against the right hand side gages theset of left hand members can be moved out of operative position anddisengaged from rod 5by loosening screw 6*. If the sheet is to beregistered against the left hand sidegages, the right hand members couldbe similarly adjusted out of operative position and disengaged from rod5.

Side register gages g of any suitable kind may be used to properlyposition the side edge of a sheet brought thereagainst relative to theprinting surface on the cylinder, as described in my Patent #1496334.Preferably I employ side registering gages, shown in Figs. 3, 10 and 11.Each side registering gage comprises a slotted plate 9 adjustablyattached to the table T by suitable screws 9 and having a pair of sidelugs 9 in which is rotatably mounted a screw rod 9 which can be turnedby hand.

Threaded on this screw is a stud 9 on a member 9 which projects acrossthe bar 7 and has attached to its upper side parallel arms or strips 9carrying sheet stops 9 on their outer ends. A side guide adjusting fork9 attached to the stud 9 provides a double bearing on screw rod 9 forthe member 9 thereby causing a more positive positioning of the sheetstop 9?.

Right and left hand side gages are provided but when one is used theother may be removed out of the way. Such gages can be easily attachedor detached from the table as required. The member 9 and the partsattached thereto can be longitudinally adjusted by loosening screws 9 asis obvious;

in my aforesaid patent; and accordingly segmental brushes 31 are shownmounted on shaft 2 and adapted to coact with the segmental brushes 20attached to the cylinder C; see Fig. 1. -The said brushes are preferablyconstructed and adapted to coact and front register the sheet againstthe gages G substantially as described in my aforesaid patent. I do notherein claim the front registering devices per 86.

It will be observed that I .haveprovided mechanisms whereby the sheetmay be registered both against the front gages and against the desiredside gages; and that such mechanisms are so mounted that they can bemoved out of the way as a unit when making ready, or for any otherdesired reason, such as for inspection or adjustment'of the parts, andwithout any of the parts becomin disarranged or out of time.

hen the parts are in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, dog 4being engaged with the notch 3*; the rod 5 and the connected members 6will be reciprocated as shaft 2 is revolved; and the gear and parts areso timed and adjusted, that after a sheet S has been-fed forward on thetable T to the front gages G and after it is positioned against suchgages by the front registering devices; the proper side registeringdevice is moved and draws the sheet either toright or left against theproper side registering gage, as may be desired.

As stated when the sheet ward by the tapes it is first registeredagainst the front gages by means of one of the brushes 2 contacting withone of the brushes 31, which in co-action with the brush 20 moves thesheet up against the front gages G, then the sheet is moved by thebrushes 6 and plate 7 against the side gages and thereafter is againfront registered by the action of the second brush 31 with the brush 20;so that each sheet is first front registered, then side registered, andthen again front registered before it is taken by the cylinder grippers;substantially as described in my aforesaid patent.

Assuming that when dog 4 is in engagement with the notch 3* in disk 3the right hand side member will be operated to register the sheetagainst the right hand side gage. If itshould afterward be desired toregister the sheets against the left hand side gages; the operatorshould disengage the right hand side registering brush member from rod 5and move the same to one side out of the way; then move the left handbrush member into operative position and fasten it to rod 5 thendisengage the dog 4 from notch 3*, and turn the cam disk 4 manually aone-half revolution until the dog 4 engages with the notch 3". Then whenthe machine is again started in operation the devices will register thesheets against the left hand side gage. If it be afterward desired toagain register sheets a ainst the right hand side ga e the left handside registering member shou d be disconnected from 'rod 5 and the righthand side registering member connected therewith; then dog 4 should bedisengaged from thenotch 3 and the cam S is brought fordisk 4 turneduntil the dog 4 engages with The frame carrying the registering deviceslmay be supported in proper operative position by any suitable means. Asshown bolts 1 are'tapped through lugs 1 on the side members 1 and engagethe, top of the caps which fit over the jaws on the'adjacent side framesof the machine. When it is desired to make ready the machine or to packthe cylinder, or to raise the table T, the frame and all the registeringmechanisms thereon as a unit can be bodily moved out of the way byswinging the frame back upon the shaft 1* as a hinge; and as in myinvention all the effective operating parts of such mechanisms above thesheet are mounted upon the movable frame and depend for their operationupon the same mechanisms; they can be handled as a unit, and may bemoved with the frame into or out of operative position without becomingrelatively displaced or out of time.

What I claim is:

1. In combination a feed table having side gages; a tiltable framemounted above the table; a rotatable shaft mounted in said frame; meanson said frame for registering sheets against either side gage, and meansfor actuating said registering means from said shaft; said shaft andmeans being movable with the frame into or out of operative position.

2. In sheet registering mechanism the combination with sheet takingmeans and a feed table having side gages; of a movable frame above thetable; a rotatable shaft mounted in said frame; means on said frame forregistering sheets against either side gage; and means for actuatingsaid moving means from said shaft whereby said registering means is keptin proper time whether in or out of operative position; said means andshaft being movable with the frame independently of the table into orout of operative positions.

3. In combination a movable frame, a rotatable shaft thereon, a sideregistering device slidably mounted onsaid frame, a reciprocatory roddetachably engaged with .sai'd registering device, a cam on said shaft,

adjustable. means for locking the cam to the.

shaft, so as to change the relation of.the cam to the shaft, means forreciprocating said rod from the said cam.

5. In combination a movable frame, a

' frame, side registering devices slidably mounted on said frame, areciprocatory rod connected with said registering devices, a rackconnected with said rod, an oscillating segment engaging said rack; aslidable rack actuating said segment, and a eam on said shaft engagingsaid slidable rack.

7 In combination with a feed table and side registering gage; a framehingedly mounted above the table, a rotatable shaft mounted in saidframe, a side registering device slidably mounted on said frame, areciprocatory rod connected with said registering device, a rackconnected with said rod, a cam on said shaft; means for operating saidrod from said cam; a notched disk fixed on said shaft beside the cam,and means for detachably locking the cam to said disk.

8. In sheet registering mechanism having front and side gages; a movableframe; a rotatable shaft mounted in said frame; means on said frame formoving sheets against the front gage, and means on said frame for movingsheets against the side gage; and means on said" frame for actuatmgeachof said moving means from said.

9. In combination with sheet taking means, front and side gages; of amovable tiltable frame; a' rotatable shaft mounted in said frame; meanson said frame for moving sheets against the front gage; means on saidframe for movingsheets against the side gage; and means for actuatingeach of said moving means from said shaft; said means being movable withthe frame into or out of operative positions.

- 10. In combination with sheet taking means, and a'feed table havingside gages; of a tiltable frame above the table; a rotatable shaftmounted in said frame; means on said frame for moving sheets against'aside gage, and means for actuating said registering means from saidshaft; said shaft and means being movable with the frame into or out ofoperative positions.

11. In sheet registering mechanism the combination with sheet takingmeans and a feed table having side gages; of a tiltable frame above thetable; a rotatable shaft mounted in said frame; means on said frame formoving sheets against the side gages; and means for actuating saidmoving means from said shaft whereby said means is kept in proper timewhether in or out of operative position; said means and shaft belngmovable with .the frame into or out of operative positions.

. 12. In combination a tiltable frame, a rotatable shaft thereon, a pairof sideregistering devices slidably mounted on said frame, areciprocatory rod detachably engaged with said registering devices; andmeans for reciprocating said rod from the rotatable shaft,

13. In combination a movable frame, ,a rotatable shaft thereon; a pairof side registering devices slidably mounted on said frame; areciprocatory rod detachably engaged with said registering devices; areciprocatory rack bar; a cam onv said shaft actuating said rack bar;and gearing between the rack bar and said rod for oscillating said rodfrom the rack-bar.

14. In combination a movable frame, a rotatable shaft thereon, a pair ofregistering devices slidlably mounted on said frame; a reciprocatory roddetachably engaged ,with said registering devices; a reciprocatory rackbar; a cam on said shaft actuating said rack bar; adjustable means forlocking the cam to the shaft so as to change the relation of the cam tothe shaft; and

: gearing between the rack bar and said rod far fgeciprocating said rodfrom the rotatabie s a t.

15. In combination with a feed table and side gages; a frame hingedlymounted above the table, a rotatable shaft mounted in said frame, a pairof side registering devices slidably mounted on said frame, areciprocatory rod'connected ,with said registering devices, a rackconnected with said rod, an oscillating segment engaging said rack; aslidable rack actuating said segment, and a can}; on said shaft engagingsaid slidable rac 16. In combination with a feed table and sideregistering gages; a frame hingedly ated by said rod and a latch fingerconnected with said bar and adapted to be engaged with the said rod.

18. In sheet registering mechanism the combination of a table, areciprocating bar mounted on the table; a frame above the table, areciprocating registering device carried by said frame above said table,and means for actuating the said bar by and with the reciprocatingregistering device.

19. In sheet registering mechanism, a reciprocating bar adapted tounderlie the sheet, a movable frame above the sheet, a reciproeating rodcarried by said frame; a side regwhen the frame is lowered, whereby thebar is moved by and with the rod;

21. A sheet gage comprising an adjustable member attached to the table,a rotatable but longitudinally immovable screw on said member, a memberadjustably engaged with said screw and having a projecting portion, andsheet stops attached to said projecting portion.

22; A sheet gage comprising a member attachable to a table, a screwrotatably attached to said member, but confined against longitudinalmovement, a member adjustably engaged with said screw and having aprojecting portion, and sheet stops attached to said projecting portion.7

23. A sheet gage comprising a member attachable to a table; a screwrotatably attached to said member, an adjustable member engaged withsaid screw and a sheet stop attached to said adjustable member, and anadjustingfork attached to the latter member and engaging the screw stem.24. A sheet gage, comprising an adjustable slotted member, a screwrotatably mounted in said member, a slidable member having a studengaged with said screw, and parallel arms connected with the slidablemember, and sheet stops attached to said arms.

25. A sheet gage, comprising an adjustable slotted member butlongitudinally movable, a screw rotatably mounted in said member, aslidable member having a stud engaged with said screw, a pair ofparallel arms connected with the outer end of said slidable member, andsheet stops attached to the said arms.

26. In sheet registering mechanism having front and side gages; meansfor register- I ing a sheet against the front gages, means for thenregistering a sheet against the side gages, and means for againregistering the sheet against the aforesaid front gages before it isseized; said means being movable as a unit into or out of operativeposition.

27. In sheet registering mechanism having front and side gages; meansfor registering a sheet against the front gages, means for thenregistering a sheet against the side gage, and means for againregistering the sheet against the aforesaid front gages before it isseized; said means being simultaneously movable into or-out ofoperative'position; and means whereby said mechanisms are kept in properrelative timed relation whether in or out of operative position.

28. In combination with sheet taking means; and front and side gages; ofmeans for registering a sheet against the front gages, means for thenregistering a sheet against'the side gage; and means foragainregistering-the sheet against the aforesaid front gages before itis seized; said means being simultaneously movable into or out ofoperative position; and means whereby said mechanisms are kept in properrelative timed relation whether in or out of operative position.

29. In sheetregistering mechanism having front gages and side gages; apivoted support; means on said support for registering against the sidegages; said means being a movable with the support into or out ofoperative position; and driving means for the registering means mountedon the pivot of the swinging frame.

'30. In sheet registering mechanism havin'g front and side gages; apivoted support; means on said support for moving a sheet against thefront gage, means on said support for moving a sheet against the sidegage; said means being movable with the support into or out of operativeposition; means carried by said support whereby said mechanisms are keptin proper relative timed relation whether in or out of operativeposition; and driving means for the registering means mounted on thepivot of the swinging frame.

31. In combination with sheet taking means, and front and side gages; ofa pivoted support; means on said support for moving a sheet against thefront gage, means on said support for moving a sheet against the sidegage; means on said support for actuating both of said mechanisms andwhere by said mechanisms are kept in relative time whether the supportbe adjusted to bring- 32. In combination with sheet taking means, andfront and side gages; of a tiltable frame; means on said frame formoving a sheet against the front gage, and means on said frame formoving a sheet against the side gage; said means being movable withtheframe into or out of operative position means carried by said framefor actuatingboth of said mechanisms; and driving means for theregistering means mounted on the pivot of the swinging frame;wherebysaid mechanisms are kept in relative time whether the frame beraised or lowered.

33. In sheet registering mechanism the combination of a table, areciprocating bar below the sheet, a reciprocating registering deviceabovethe sheet adapted to hold the sheet against said bar, means forreciprocating the said registering device, and devices for detachablyconnecting said bar to said reciprocating means whereby said bar is-moved with the registering device.

34. In sheet registering mechanism, the I combination of a reciprocatingbar adapted to underlie the sheets, a reciprocating sideregisteringbrush above the sheet adapted to press the sheet against said bar, meansfor reciprocating the said brush, and devices A I for detachablyconnecting said bar to said brush reciprocating means, whereby saidbrush and said bar may be moved together.

said registering means, all said means being bodily mounted movable withthe frame into or out of operative position without disturbing theirrelative adjustments.

, In testimony I my own, I afiix my signature.

MICHAEL ANDREW DROITG OUR.

that I claim the foregoing as

